The Avalanche token (AVAX) performs various tasks within Avalanche's Proof of Stake blockchain network. The Avalanche token functions as a rewards and payment system for users. The network is designed to be an open-source platform for launching highly decentralized applications, enterprise deployments, and decentralized financial instruments. The Avalanche ecosystem is meant to be smore scalable and interoperable than other blockchain platforms. Unlike Bitcoin and many other networks, transaction fees are “burnt” in order to increase token scarcity. This process is offset by the release, or “minting,” of new coins.
Avalanche was launched by Ava Labs, whose founder Emin Gün Sirer is a veteran computer scientist that has been very influential in the Blockchain space. Gün Sirer is a computer science professor at Cornell University and has written extensively about scaling blockchain networks.

Tendermint is a consensus algorithm that was created by a company called All in Bits. The open source algorithm is Byzantine Fault-Tolerant and uses an authenticated encryption system to secure transactions. The Tendermint consensus mechanism was developed in 2014 for the Cosmos Network. The Interchain Foundation, which is developing the Cosmos Network, continues to employ All in Bits to support Cosmos.

Bytecent is developing a decentralized rewards network powered by blockchain. Bytecent allows merchants to create customer loyalty programs that are cross-site and cross-platform compatible. Consumers are not restricted to using their rewards with just one merchant, and can redeem them anywhere Bytecent is accepted. In addition to secure transactions and portability, Bytecent never expire and there are no limitations on how many Bytecent you can accumulate or spend. BYC can be converted to Bitcoin, cash, and gift cards. Bytecent uses a variation of Proof-of-Work (PoW) for consensus that requires miners to manually attend to their computers and is called Proof-of-Miner (PoM). It's designed to prevent the use of advanced and autonomous mining hardware. Avanquest Software, a leading developer of consumer software, has implemented Bytecent for their rewards program.